Printing form



F. LQSPEIDEN 2,065,156

PRINTING FORM Filed Sept. 21, 1934' ERIE RAILROAD |I John Island to Grohan. I 1 2675 Croghan S.6 44 28 38 4| 29 51 44 37 I8 :54 2687 S,C 72 45 I4 38 29 5! 34 37 5 75! 2693 Gannon -s.c 27 45 4| as 92 I5 43 73 1551 s It 5 i R Y 2 l i r i l l W W] NW W DQIICDCU S6 INVENTOR- Patented Dec. 22, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRINTING FORM tion of New York Application September 21, 1934, Serial No. 744,889

16 Claims.

This invention relates to slug casting machines, such as linotype machines of the general organization represented in United States Letters Patent to O. Mergenthaler No. 436,532, wherein an 5 assembled line of matrices and expansible spacebands is presented momentarily to the face of a slotted mold, the spacebands expanded to justify the line for casting, and a slug or type bar cast in the mold against the justified line of matrices which produce the type characters thereon.

The invention refers more particularly to the production of slugs or type bars which go to make up printing forms, and while applicable to printing forms generally, it is especially useful in connection with forms intended for tabular work (such as price lists, time tables, etc.), requiring the employment of printing elements for forming ruling surfaces intermingled in a line of characters for producing reading matter and, at times, 20 characters in the form of dots or strokes known in the trade as leader characters. Heretofore it has been the practice to cast on slugs transverse ruling elements which will aline to form an unbroken vertical line or ruling surface when a series of slugs are assembled in the printing form. When the slugs going to make up the form are cast from the same line of matrices, especially ,without expansible spacebands, no problem is presented, but when the printing form is made up of a series of slugs cast from different composed lines of matrices containing different numbers of spacebands which are expanded to a different extent in each line, it is practically impossible to obtain a true alinement of the transverse ruling elements formed on the several slugs. The result is that the form presents a ruling surface formed of a series of short lines or dashes which fail to aline or join perfectly and, hence, will print a line containing unsightly irregularities in spite of all the care and time required in attempting to compose such different lines of matrices to attain a true alinement of the ruling elements.

The present invention is intended to obviate the foregoing objectionable features, and to this end provides a matrix adapted to be composed in line for casing on a slug a ruling element extend- I ing transversely of the slug body but terminating short of one or both side faces of the slug a definite distance, whereby when a plurality of slugs are arranged in the printing form there will be presented a vertical broken-line ruling surface formed of equally spaced ruling elements which,

even if only in substantial alinement with one another, will nevertheless present a visual aspect of true alinement.

In carrying out the invention, the ruling elements are in the form of elongated ellipses, which decrease in width from their widest points toward 5 opposite ends in varying degree and have opposite ends of unequal curvature. It is also intended that each slug may carry two transversely alined ruling elements if desired, but in such case the two elements are formed differently. Although of substantially equal width at their widest points, one element is longer than the other and tapers to a more marked degree toward its opposite ends, which latter vary in degree of curvature to a greater extent than the opposite ends of the shorter element. In order to preserve the equal spacing between the ruling elements on all the slugs in the printing form, the two elements of each slug terminate definite equal distances from opposite side faces of the 20 slug and the distance between the two elements on each slug is equal to the sum of those two distances, or in other words, the distance between the two elements is twice the distance from the end of each element to the side face of the slug. This will be more clearly understood from the detailed description to follow.

In the accompanying drawing, the invention has been shown merely by way of example in its preferred form and obviously many modifications and variations may be made therein which will still be comprised within its spirit. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any particular form or embodiment, except in so far as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows a blank or ruled form illustrative of the class of work for which the present invention is particularly designed; 4

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the mold of a slug casting machine, showing the improved matrices alined therewith;

Fig. 3 is a perspective of a cast slug or type bar produced in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view, showing portions of the slugs embodying one form of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing another embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a matrix embodying the invention.

Referring first to Fig. 1, there is shown a printed sheet R illustrative of the class of work produced by a printing form made up in accord- 55 ance with the present invention. The sheet R bears a ruled form of printed matter R each horizontal line of which is printed from a single slug, suchas the slug S in Fig. 3, and which slug also bears elements C, C for printing portions of vertical broken ruled lines R The ruled lines R comprise impressions T alternately varying in size but equally spaced apart, and it will be noted that even if there exist slight irregularities in the alinement of the printed impressions forming the ruled lines, nevertheless there is presented the visual aspect of true alinement.

In Fig. 4 there are shown portions of three slugs S S and S as they appear when arranged in a printing form, and which resemble the slug S in that each bears two transversely alined ruling elements C and C The elements C and C are located definite equal distances s from the opposite side faces of the slug on which they are formed; and to preserve the equal spacing of the elements throughout the printing form the distance s between the elements C, C is equal to twice the distance 3. In other words, the distance between the elements C, C on a single slug is equal to the distance between adjacent elements on two contiguous slugs.

Preferably, the two elements on each slug are short and close together. The surfaces of both are of elliptical configuration but differ in size and. to a slight extent in shape. For example, the printing surface of element C is longer than that of element C and it has a greater degree of decrease in width from its widest section, substantially centrally of the element, toward its opposite ends and 0 Because of this latter fact, every end of the surfaces of both elements differs in degree of curvature from every other end of said surfaces. However, the surfaces of corresponding elements on difierent slugs are of the same size and shape and. when the slugs are arranged in the printing form corresponding surfaces are presented alternately. The unsymmetrical form of the ruling surfaces and their difference in size combine with the equal spacing of the elements to obviate the visible presence of any malalinement of the elements on the different slugs going to make up the printing form and, hence, there is presented a visual aspect of true alinement, as already stated.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, each slug S and S carries but a single element C the surface of which, like those of elements C and C is in the form of an unsymmetrical elongated ellipse extending transversely of the slug body. The elements C on the slugs S4, S and S are all of the same size and shape and are centered on their respective slugs. Hence, the opposite ends of each terminate equal distances s from the adjacent side faces of the slug on which the element is formed.v It follows that when the slugs are locked up in the printing form, the element C on the slug S isspaced from each of the elements C on the slugs S and S equal distances (twice the distance 8 and the identity of size and shape of the elements C and the equal spacing between them exist throughout the printing form.

- The slugs are cast in the usual manner against a composed line of matrices presented to the face of a. slotted mold A (Fig. 2), comprising a fixed body portion A and an adjustable cap portion A which define between them a mold slot A The line is composed and presented to the mold in the customary manner and is the same as an ordinary line except for the presence therein of one or more special matrices M. The special matrices M (Figs. 2 and 6) are of the regular two letter variety, provided on their opposite edges with projecting ears M and in their mold engaging edges with upper and lower routing notches M containing at their bottoms special formative cavities or intaglio characters M When the line is presented to the mold, it is raised slightly so that the upper edges of the lower ears M of the matrices M (and of the corresponding ears of the regular matrices) are engaged with the under surface of one or the other of two mold alining ribs A and A to aline the lower or upper routing notches M respec. tively, with the mold slot A By this alinement, the characters of the regular matrices are properly alined with the mold slot A and with one another, as usual, whereas the characters M of the special matrices M are centered with respect to the mold slot A for casting the rule printing elements on the slug so that they terminate equal distances short of the side faces thereof.

It is to be remembered that the point size of the mold slot A is varied by adjusting the cap portion A of the mold A toward or away from the fixed body portion A ince the special matrices M are alined to center their characters with respect to the mold slot A a set of the special matrices of a particular point size can be used only with a mold of corresponding point size. However, this is not objectionable because the character of work wherein these matrices are employed requires only a few sets of the matrices, falling within a narrow range of the smaller point sizes. It is for this reason that special matrices of the two letter variety, bearing both single and double characters, as shown, are readily adaptable to the work, although matrices of the single letter variety carrying one, two or more characters could be employed equally well if necessary or desired. 7

To reiterate, the invention has been shown and described merely in preferred form and obviously many variations and modifications may be made. therein without departing from its spirit. For example, the rule printing elements could be formed to terminate short of but one side face of the slug and alternate slugs could bear elements differing in size or shape or both. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited to any particular form or embodiment, except insofar as such limitations are set forth in the appended claims. A

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: I

l. A type bar or slug formed with an elongated rule printing element formed with rounded ends and extending transversely of the slug body and. terminating short of at least one side face of the slug.

' 2. A type bar or slug formed with an elongated rule printing element formed with rounded ends and extending transversely of the slug body and terminating short of both side faces of the slug. 7

3. A type bar or slug formed with an elongated rule printing element formed with rounded ends and extending transversely of the slug body and terminating equalrdistances short of both side faces of the slug. 7

4. A type bar or slug as in claim 1, whereinthe rule printing element has a'surface in the form of an elongated ellipse.

5. A type bar or slug as in claim 1, wherein the'surface of the rule printing element is in 7 the form of an elongated ellipse having opposite ends of unequal curvature.

6. A type bar or slug as in claim 1, wherein the surface of the rule printing element is in the form of an elongated ellipse, the width of the surface decreasing from its widest section toward opposite ends in unequal degree, and its ends being of unequal curvature.

7. A printing form comprising a series of slugs bearing printing characters and elongated rule printing elements formed with rounded ends and extending transversely of the slug bodies, said elements presenting a broken line appearance and a visual aspect of true alinement.

8. A printing form comprising a series of slugs bearing printing characters and elongated rule printing elements formed with rounded ends and extending transversely of the slug bodies, said elements terminating short of both side faces of their respective slugs equal distances and. presenting a visual aspect of true alinement.

9. A type bar or slug formed with a plurality of definitely spaced elongated rule printing elements formed with rounded ends and extending in alinement transversely of the slug body.

10. A type bar or slug formed with a plurality of definitely spaced elongated rule printing elements formed with rounded ends and extending in alinement transversely of the slug body, the element adjacent at least one side face of the slug terminating short of that side face a distance equal to one half the space between two adjacent elements.

11. A type bar or slug formed with a plurality of definitely spaced elongated rule printing elements formed with rounded ends and extending in alinement transversely of the slug body, the elements adjacent opposite side faces of the slug each terminating short of its respective side face a distance equal to one half the distance between adjacent elements.

12. A type bar or slug as in claim 9, wherein the printing surfaces of adjacent elements vary insize.

13. A type bar or slug as in claim 9, wherein the printing surfaces of adjacent elements are of similar shape but of different size.

14. A type bar or slug as in claim 9, wherein the printing surfaces of adjacent elements are of similar shape but of difierent size, said surfaces being in the form of elongated ellipses of different lengths and at least one of said surfaces decreasing in width from its widest section toward opposite ends in unequal degree and having ends of unequal curvature.

15. A printing form comprising a series of slugs bearing printing characters and rule printing elements substantially elliptical in shape extending transversely of the slug bodies, said elements being successively of different sizes and terminating short of at least one of the side faces of their respective slugs to present a broken line appearance and a visual aspect of true alinement.

16. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a slotted mold, a line of matrices cooperating with the mold and including one or more matrices formed with vertically disposed cavities for casting rule printing elements on a slug, the length of said cavities being less than the height of the mold slot and adapted to cast on a slug an elongated rule printing element substantially elliptical in shape Which extends transversely of the slug body, and said matrices being adapted to aline with the mold to locate the cavities centrally of the mold slot.

FILLISON L. SPEIDEN. 

